The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
Bringing in the Sheaves
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
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Sewing seeds of kindness
Sewing in the noon tide
And the early eve
Waiting for the harvest
And the time of reaping
We shall come rejoicing
[Chorus]
Bringing in the sheaves
Bringing in the sheaves
We shall come rejoicing
Bringing in the sheaves
[Chorus]
Sewing in the sunshine
Sewing in the shadows
Nearing by the clouds
Winter chilling all the green
By and by the harvest
And the labor ended
We shall come rejoicing
Bringing in the sheaves
[Chorus: x 4]
We shall come rejoicing
Bringing in the sheaves
The lyrics of "Bringing in the Sheaves" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a direct reference to Psalm 126:6, which says, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." The song is a metaphorical representation of planting and harvesting crops, with the lyrics referring to the act of sewing seeds of kindness and waiting for the harvest time.
The lyrics also emphasize the idea of continually working hard and persevering through different seasons, no matter if it's during the sunny days, in the shadows, or during the winter. The line "Sewing in the sunshine, sewing in the shadows" suggests that we should consistently work towards a goal, even when it's challenging or seems like nothing is being accomplished.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Bringing in the Sheaves" several times, which is a metaphor for bringing in the crops after they have been harvested. This could be interpreted as a representation of gathering the fruits of one's labor, regardless of how much difficulty one may encounter in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Sewing the morning
Planting seeds of kindness in the morning
Sewing seeds of kindness
Planting seeds of compassion and goodness
Sewing in the noon tide
Planting seeds of kindness in the middle of the day
And the early eve
Planting seeds of kindness in the early evening
Waiting for the harvest
Anticipating the time when our efforts will bear fruit
And the time of reaping
The time when we can gather the fruit of our labor
We shall come rejoicing
We will experience great happiness
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
We shall come rejoicing
We will experience great happiness
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
Sewing in the sunshine
Planting seeds of kindness when things are going well
Sewing in the shadows
Planting seeds of kindness even when things are difficult
Nearing by the clouds
When there are difficulties, we continue to sow
Winter chilling all the green
During hard times, when everything seems bleak and desolate
By and by the harvest
Eventually, our hard work will bear fruit
And the labor ended
When we have finished the work, we can rest and enjoy the harvest
We shall come rejoicing
We will experience great happiness
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
We shall come rejoicing
We will experience great happiness
Bringing in the sheaves
As a result of our hard work, we will reap a bountiful harvest
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: EDWIN HAWKINS, GEORGE A MINOR, KNOWLES (TRAD.) SHAW, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind